After a summer spent watching Prime Minister Mark Carney spar with U.S. President Donald Trump, and Premier François Legault struggle through the SAAQclic scandal, it’s easy to forget that municipal politics will also be front and centre this fall.

Judging by their relatively weak campaigning over the summer, Projet Montréal — after eight years in power under outgoing mayor Valérie Plante — may be facing a stronger challenge than anticipated.

Ensemble Montréal and its mayoral candidate, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, look like formidable opponents. From what I’m seeing, strong organizational skills and tireless effort have allowed her to thus far outperform her main rival, Projet Montréal Leader Luc Rabouin.

The daughter of Chilean refugees, Martinez Ferrada has fought hard for everything in life. I find her to be an engaging and impressive figure. Business leaders in the tourism sector speak highly of her performance as a minister in Justin Trudeau’s government.

I also find she brings a clearer vision for managing Montreal, one that contrasts sharply with the plodding,........

© Montreal Gazette